Lyon Is Home to the World's First Driverless Bus Service

Lyon, France is home to the world’s first daily driverless bus service, which will run in the city's Confluence area.

The free buses, which includes features like LiDAR radar technology and motion sensors to help it avoid accidents, can hold up to 15 passengers. Larger versions are in development mode for the future.

The service, which began this weekend, includes two electric shuttles that will transport passengers on a ten-minute route hosting five stops.

Designed by French company Navya, the electric buses were tested in several French cites and in Switzerland before coming to Lyon, and are also set to undergo trials in Dubai.

“They’re equipped with a range of detectors that allow them to know exactly where they are and to detect everything happening around them and to manage it intelligently to avoid collisions,” Christophe Sapet, Navya’s chief executive officer, told The Telegraph.

The company will continue operating on this specific route as it further tests the buses ability to maneuver around other traffic and vehicles.

The Confluence has become noted for its transformation from what was once an industrial wasteland to an urban space offering environmentally sustainable designs, new residential areas, and tourist attractions.

Talia Avakian is a digital reporter at Travel + Leisure. Follow her on Twitter at @TaliaAvak.